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The Waitlist Paradox I â€“ Why Me?

Some applicants receive a letter stating that they have been put on the waitlist. You too may have received such a letter. This letter means that you have the qualifications that the school is looking for, but due to other factors you have not been admitted. These factors might include you being too young, or being too experienced, or being less unique than desired, or having inconsistent track record, or not demonstrating compelling reasons for a great fit with the school. All in all, the admissions committee is not entirely convinced about your candidacy, but is willing to give you a chance.

If you have been put on waitlist by more than one school, then you should consider re-examining/strengthening your application. You should also consider applying for other schools who might take a different view on certain unchangeable elements of your application, such as you not being in the work force long enough. There are schools which may take prudent risks with young yet ambitious individuals who have a less proven track record.

To be put on the waitlist does NOT mean that you have been rejected. All programs have a limited number of applicants that they can accept each term. With the number of MBA applicants growing, the competition for admission is very intense. There are steps that you can take to improve your chances for admission.

Different Schools, Different Years, Different Policies

Some schools place an applicant on the waitlist early on in the admission process. The reason for this is that the school wishes to wait and see how the class composition is developing before making a final decision. Many times an individual who makes it to the second round of the process is competing not only against new applicants, but also against those on the waitlist. So being on the waitlist early on is not a bad thing at all. It is more like a deferment of admission. Other schools, especially those who are highly selective, rarely move people from the waitlist. This makes sense because very few people who are admitted to the top tier schools decline the offer to attend. Still other schools admit students from the waitlist who have shown improvement in their application. So each school has its own policy and procedure for the waitlist. Depending on each yearâ€™s application numbers and quality, each school may also adjust its waitlist policy a bit to better serve its admissions objective. Simply put, the â€œwaitâ€

Btw there was a sticky a common one for say essay tips posted by rhyme, 9 things not do in WL posted by Helg, choice of recomenders posted by aaudetat, sniper approach to b-school visit etc
The sticky seems to be removed can one of the moderators make all those a sticky again

What should you do first? Follow instructions. Some schools have a strict policy against unsolicited materials from waitlist applicants. If the school specifically says that they donâ€™t want to receive supplemental materials, then do not send them. The schools look unfavorably upon waitlist applicants who do not follow directions. What can you do if you are waitlisted at a school like this? Just wait.

So in situations like this, is waiting really the only option? I wish I could do something about my app rather than just sit and wait. It feels so empty not getting any updates from schools everytime I check my email.

What should you do first? Follow instructions. Some schools have a strict policy against unsolicited materials from waitlist applicants. If the school specifically says that they donâ€™t want to receive supplemental materials, then do not send them. The schools look unfavorably upon waitlist applicants who do not follow directions. What can you do if you are waitlisted at a school like this? Just wait.

So in situations like this, is waiting really the only option? I wish I could do something about my app rather than just sit and wait. It feels so empty not getting any updates from schools everytime I check my email.

You may opt for a campus visit to show your intrest indiretly
But if they have a policy against that (which sounds unlikely)
all you can do is just wait.

What should you do first? Follow instructions. Some schools have a strict policy against unsolicited materials from waitlist applicants. If the school specifically says that they donâ€™t want to receive supplemental materials, then do not send them. The schools look unfavorably upon waitlist applicants who do not follow directions. What can you do if you are waitlisted at a school like this? Just wait.

So in situations like this, is waiting really the only option? I wish I could do something about my app rather than just sit and wait. It feels so empty not getting any updates from schools everytime I check my email.

You may opt for a campus visit to show your intrest indiretlyBut if they have a policy against that (which sounds unlikely)all you can do is just wait.

Thank you venky for your reply. I'm just being so axious waiting. Campus visit might not be an option for me since it's peak season and I'm loaded with work right now. My boss would kill me if I abandon him to fly to US at this time. Anyway, guess all I can do is be patient and wait.

Firstly, thank you, venky, for sharing with us this useful newsletter.

Secondly, I wanted to challenge some of the advice given in this letter:

venky1979 wrote:

...

If you have received acceptance into a rival school, then write and clearly outline why this school should move you into the acceptance pool, and if they do so why you will definitely consider them over the rival school. The reasons need to be compelling, not just a change of heart.

...

Let the school know of any acceptance to other rival schools. Let them know why they should move you off the list and why you would accept their school over the rival.

I see it as "playing the schools against each other" and I consider it as a very dangerous tactics. That was actually mentioned by Linda Abrahams of Accepted.com as one of the the "9 mistakes".
One must use this tactics with great care and only when absolutely necessary, e.g. when you are approaching a deposit deadline in a school where you were accepted but would rather attend the school where you were waitlisted.

With two waitlists in hand, I thought this article might be useful. But there is nothing here that I can't figure out with some common sense. The key is trying to understand WHY I'm on waitlist; but the schools don't give much in terms of feedback.

I see it as "playing the schools against each other" and I consider it as a very dangerous tactics. That was actually mentioned by Linda Abrahams of Accepted.com as one of the the "9 mistakes". One must use this tactics with great care and only when absolutely necessary, e.g. when you are approaching a deposit deadline in a school where you were accepted but would rather attend the school where you were waitlisted.

Why is it dangerous? Does it me that the targeted school may not like it? Just curious.

I see it as "playing the schools against each other" and I consider it as a very dangerous tactics. That was actually mentioned by Linda Abrahams of Accepted.com as one of the the "9 mistakes". One must use this tactics with great care and only when absolutely necessary, e.g. when you are approaching a deposit deadline in a school where you were accepted but would rather attend the school where you were waitlisted.

Why is it dangerous? Does it me that the targeted school may not like it? Just curious.

Sure it's dangerous! Imagine schools are girls. So, you proposed to Ann, because you really-really like her, but she's still hesitating, whether you are The Man. And you know that Beth is head over heels in love with you. Will you try to show to Ann how good you are, win her over by doing something great? Or will you just come over to Ann and say:- Beth is ready to go out with me. But I like you better. But if you reject me, I will go out with Beth. What do you say?Chances are she will reject you immediately, especially if Beth is nowhere near as classy as Ann, just to teach you a lesson, and make you suffer. Because she might have liked you, but you behaved like an a----le in putting her and Beth on the same scale

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.